Caves and shelters under rock in Midi-Pyrénées

Prehistoric cave
09290 Le Mas-d'Azil

The Mas-d'Azil cave in Ariège (Occitanie) is a prehistoric cavity of 2,100 m, famous for its Azilian remains and its unique road tunnel in Europe, occupied for 35,000 years.

Sheltered in rock
82800 Bruniquel

The rock shelters of Bruniquel Castle, located in Occitanie, are prehistoric Paleolithic sites associated with a medieval castral complex overlooking Aveyron. These caves bear witness to an ancient occupation near spectacular cliffs.

Ornate cave
46500 Miers

The prehistoric deposit of Les Fieux à Miers (Lot, Occitanie) is a major archaeological site, housing an adorned cave and remains dating from the Middle Paleolithic period (340,000 years) in the Middle Ages, open to the public since 2007.

Ornate cave
31210 Gourdan-Polignan

The Elephant Cave in Gourdan-Polignan is a major prehistoric site of the Upper Paleolithic, listed as a historical monument, located in Upper Garonne (Occitanie).

Ornate cave
65130 Labastide

Labastide Horse Cave, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées in Occitanie, is a Magdalenian adorned cave famous for its parietal art and archeoacoustic phenomena, classified as a historical monument in 1983.

Ornate cave
46500 Rocamadour

The Wonders Cave, located in Rocamadour, Occitanie, is a paleolithic adorned cave discovered in 1920, classified as a historical monument in 1925, housing paintings and engravings over 20,000 years old.

Sheltered in rock
31420 Aurignac

The prehistoric shelter of Aurignac, in Upper Garonne, is an archaeological deposit of the Upper Paleolithic having given its name to the Aurignacian culture. Ranked a historic monument in 1921, it bears witness to the first human occupation in Europe 35,000 years ago.

Ornate cave
46300 Payrignac

The Cugnac caves, located in Payrignac, Occitanie, are a set of two prehistoric cavities, one adorned with paleolithic paintings and the other rich in natural concretions, discovered in the 20th century.